Engine-starting apparatus



1 7 1,6 4, July 5, 1927. F c. KROEGER 3 751 ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 5,1927. '1',634,751

- F. c. KROEGER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed May a. 1924 2 Sheets-Shoot 3 Patented July s, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca.

FREDERICK O. KBQEGER, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO DELCO-BEMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ,A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed Kay 6, 1924. Serial No. 711,393.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, articularly, to a type of apparatus inclu in an electric motor operating a gear whic is movable axially into engagement with a gear connected with the engine such as the engine flywheel ear.

Among the ob ects of the invention are the connecting of the motor car with the en gine gear and the operating the motor by manual operation; for example, by means of a starting lever, and the demeshing of the motor gear from the engine gear automatically when the engine starts, regardless of whether the starting lever is still maintained in engine-starting position.

In order to accomplish these objects the invention providesmeans responsive to the self-o eratlveness of the engine, such as electrical means, rendered operative by the operation of the engine, for disconnecting the starting motor pedal from a device which engages the motor gear to shift it axially into engagement with the flywheel gear. The motor gear is connected with the motor shaft by a spiral spline or screw thread. Consequently, when the engine becomes self-operative, the motor gear wi,ll be automaticall demeshed from the engine gear, altho t e starting motor pedal may not yet be released by the operator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the.

following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view partly in section, of a starting motor and gearing, including a form of the invention, the apparatns being in normal or inoperative condition.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram, showing one form of the electrical circuit including the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the apparatus in condition for cranking the en inc; and

ig. 5 is a View similar'to Fig. 4, showing the operating lever in position to close the motor switch, and showing the operation of an electro-magnet connected in the motor circuit, to disconnect the operating lever from the motor gear so that the motor gear may be automatically demeshed, as indicated in dotted lines in this figure.

Referring to the drawings: 20 designates a gear housing including a bracket 21 for supporting the housing upon the frame of an engine, not shown, but represented in the drawings by an engine flywheel ear 22. The housing 20 supports a motor fiel d frame 23. By means of a bearing (not shown), the frame 23 supports the motor shaft 24 having one end journalled at 25 in the gear housing 20. The shaft 24 is provided with a, spirally-splined or threaded portion 26, which engages an internally-threaded motor gear 27- carrying a flanged washer 28 progecting beyond the perip iery of the gear.

The motion-transmitting device for shifting gear 27 endwise into engagement with the gear 22 includes a bifurcated lever 29, pivoted upon a shaft 30 carried by housing 20, the bifurcations of lever 29 being connected by a yoke 31 and the ends thereof being rounded at 32 to engage a grooved collar 33. Between collar 33 and the end 34 of the armature core there is located a spacer 35. A spring 36, coiled around the shaft 30 has one end 37 hearing against the gear housing 20, and the other end 38 hearing against the yoke 31. Between the grooved collar 33 and the gear 27 there is located a spring 40 in an initial state of compression by means of spring housing members 41 and 42, which limit the separation of members 33 and 27. Housing member 41 is attached as shown in Fig. 1' to the collar/33 and is provided with a ange 43 connected with a flange 45 of the member 42 by lugs 44 integral with flange 4.5 and bent around flange 43. Member 42 is provided with an opening 46, which is large enou h to clear the motor gear 27 but is smaller in diameter than the external diameter of the washer 28. The manually operable means for moving the motion-transmitting device, includes a lever pivoted u on the shaft 30 and carrying an adjustable screw 51 adapted to engage the plunger 52 of a motor-operating switch enclosed within a housing 53. One terminal of the switch for connection with a current source is shown at 54 and the other terminal not shown s connected with the motor field circuit. The lever 50 is operated by a rod 55 carrying a pedal 56 located in convenient reach of the driver.

The means for connecting the lever 50 with a gear shifting lever 29, includes a pawl 60 pivoted upon a stud 61 carried by lever 50. The pawl engages a notch 62 in the lever 29 and is normally held in this position by means of a spring 63 coiled around the stud 61 and having one end 64 bearing against an car 65 of the pawl 60, said car being at right angles to the main portion of the pawl 60. The other end 66 of spring 63 bears against a stud 67 on lever 50.

The motor field frame 23 supports an electro-magnet 70 of the solenoid type which, when energized, will actuate an armature on plunger 71 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, into the position shown in Fig. 5. The plunger 71 includes a head portion 72 carying a screw 73 adapted to engage the ear 65 of the pawl 60.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 3, S0 indicates a storage battery or other source of current, grounded at 81 and connected by a switch 82 with the electric starting motor, which includes a field winding 83 and an armature 84, which is grounded at 85. The electro-magnet 70 is connected in parallel with the armature 84 and is grounded at 86.

A collar 90 is attached to the motor shaft 24 and a thrust washer 91 is located between the collar 90 and a plane surface 92 formed on the housing 20.

The manner of operating the invention is as follows:

When the engine is at rest the starting apparatus is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. To start the engine a pedal 56 is depressed causing the lever 50 to move into the position shown in Fig. 4 to effect the movement of the lever 29 and the closing of the motor switch by depressing the plunger 52 to the position shown in Fig. 4. In case the teeth of the gear 27 register with the tooth spaces of the gear 22, the engagement of these gears will take place before the motor switch is closed. But in case of tooth abutment the spring will be compressed beyond its initial state of compression, thus permitting the motor switch to be closed. The motor will then turn to register the gear 27 for enmeshment with the gear 22, and slight rotation of gear 27 will release the spring 40 which will quickly jump the gear 27 into engagement with the gear 22. After the gear 27 has been moved endwise along the shaft until it engages the collar 90, the gear 27 will turn with the shaft 24 to operate the engine gear 22. This engine-crank. ing position of gear 27 is shown in Fig. 4.

Movement of lever into the, position shown in Fig. 1, brings the ear of pawl 60 closely adjacent the screw 73 carried by w the magnet plunger 71. 'While the motor is cranking the engine, pressure between the pawl 60 and the notch 62 of lever 29 is relieved, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the magnet has but the force exerted by spring 63 to overcome in shifting the pawl 60 from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 5. lVhen the engine becomes self-operative and drives the motor as a generator, the counter-electromotive force developed by the motor armature 8 will energize the magnet 70 sufiiciently to move the plunger 71 into the position shown in Fig. 5. The motor gear 27 is now released from the starting pedal 56, therefore, the engine will automatically demesh the motor gear 27 from the engine gear 22, and cause the collar 83 and the lever 29 to return to the positions indicated in dash lines in Fig. 5. Therefore, it is apparent that the motor gear 27 will be automatically demeshed, regardless of whether the operating lever 50 is held down after the engine becomes self-operative.

The demeshing of the gear 27 is assisted by spring 36 which maintains the gear shifting mechanism in position shown in Fig. 1. The spacer 35 limits the endwise movement of the collar 33 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3.

To stop the motor, the operator releases the pedal 56. A spring 56 located between the pedal and the stationary part such as the floor board 56* of the vehicle, causes the lever 50 to return to the position shown in Fig. 1. A slight clearance between the pawl 60 and lever 29 is provided in the normal at rest position of the apparatus, so that the pawl 60 will then enter the notch 63.

It is apparent, therefore, that the starting apparatus will not be damaged by failure to release the pedal 56 as soon as the engine starts. Automatic demeshment of gear 27 will take place regardless of the status of the starting pedal 56. Therefore, the present invention avoids the use of an overrunning clutch connecting the motor armature *with starting gears in order to protect the armature against excessive rotation when the engine starts.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

lVhat I claim is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; means for connecting the motor with a gear of the en glue to be started including a gear movable into mesh with said engine gear and including devices whereby the motor gear is automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine startes; a motor switch; a pedal-operated member for operating the motor switch; means for transmitting motion from said e'dal member to the motor gear including isconnectible parts and including a spring which yields to permit the pedal member to close the switch in case the motor gear teeth abut the engine gear teeth; and electrical ';means responsive 'to self-operation of the engine for causing said parts to become disconnected, whereby the motor gear will be demeshed when-the engine starts regardless of manipulation of the pedal member.

2. Engine startin apparatus comprising, in combination, an e ectric motor; means for connecting the motor with'a gear of the enine to be started including a gear movable into mesh with said engine .gear' and including devices whereb the motor gear is automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine starts; a motor switch; a pedal-o erated lever for operating the motor switc a latch pawl pivoted on said pedal lever; a member operated by said latch pawl; a spring transmitting motion from said member to the gear to permit the lever to close the switch in case the motor gear teeth abut the engine gear teeth; a magnetizable member movable to disconnect the latch from the gear-moving member; and air electromagnet energized in response to engine operation for actuating the magnetizable member;

3. Engine startin apparatus comprising, in combination, an e ectric motor; a spirallysplined shaft driven by the motor; a gear threaded on said splined shaft and movable endwise into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started; a motor switch; a pedaL operated lever ior actuating the switch; means for transmitting motion from the pedal lever to the motor gear including a spring which ields to permit closing the motor switch in case the teeth of the motor gear abut the teeth of the engine gear, and including disconnectible parts one of which is a latch pawl pivoted on the pedal lever; and

electromagnetic means responsive to the operation of the engine for moving the latch to disconnect the pedal lever from the motor gear. v

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; a spirally-. splined shaft driven by the motor; a gear threaded on said splined shaft and movable endwise into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started; a frame enclosing motor parts and the shaft and gear; a edal-operated lever and a gear shifting ever coaxially pivoted on said frame; a latch pivoted on the pedal lever and engaging the gear-shifting lever; an electro-magnetic device mounted on the frame and having an armature located in the path of motion of the latch in order to engage the latch to disconnect the same from the gear-shifting lever when the magnet is energized; and a switch mounted on the frame and having an operating member located in the path of movement of the pedal lever.

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; a spirally-splined shaft driven by the motor; a gear threaded on said splined shaft and movable endwise into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started; means for moving the motor gear endwise into mesh with the engine gear including a pedal-operated member, a gear-shifting member and a latch pivoted thereon and movable out of engagement with the gear-shifting member; a motor switch operated directly by the pedal member the latch connection permitting the pedal memher to be released and the switch to open in case the engine should fail to start after gears are meshed; and electromagnetic means responsive to engine operation for moving the latch to disconnect the pedal member from the gear-shifting member.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

' FREDERICK O. KROEGER. 

